ECONOMY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

SABBATH-SCHOOLS. 


•A 

SERMON 

PREACHED  IN  THE  BLEECKER-STREET  CHURCH, 
NEW  YORK, 

PRECEDING  A  CONTRIBUTION   TO   THE  FUNDS   OP  THE 

AMERICAN  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  UNION, 
JUNE,  1845. 

BY  ERSKINE  MASON,  D.  D., 

PASTOR  OF  SAID  CHURCH. 

PHILADELPHIA: 
AMERICAN  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  UNION, 
146  CHESTNUT  STREET. 


THE 

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ECONOMY  OF  THE  CHURCH 


SABBATH-SCHOOLS. 


"  Then  said  i,  wisdom  is  better  than  strength." 
Ecclesiastes  is.  16. 

The  wise  man  was  led  to  utter  this  aphorism,  in  view  of  a  fact, 
which  had  fallen  under  his  observation.  A  city  of  limited  extent, 
and  but  thinly  inhabited,  was  threatened  by  a  mighty  army  which 
encamped  before  its  gates.  Its  physical  resources  and  energies, 
were  wholly  incompetent  to  its  defence  ;  and  its  ruin,  which  seemed 
to  be  certain,  was  prevented  only  by  a  poor  man,  who  owed  his 
influence  to  no  external  distinction  whatever,  but  simply  to  his 
worth,  as  a  man  of  great  wisdom.  A  fact  illustrative  of  the  vast 
superiority  of  mental  and  moral,  over  all  other  kinds  of  distinc- 
tion. We  need  hardly,  in  our  day,  attempt  to  establish  the  truth 
of  such  an  aphorism,  taken  in  its  general  sense,  for  it  is  already 
established  beyond  dispute.  We  never  think  of  mind  as  inferior  to 
the  body,  or  pretend  to  compare  mental  enlargement  with  mere 
physical  developement  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  former.  There 
are,  too,  numerous  other  distinctions  among  men,  and  other  sources 
of  power.  Wealth  and  office  may,  without  in  the  slightest  degree 
adding  to,  or  subtracting  from,  any  of  the  essential  elements  of 
character,  give  influence,  but  there  is  nothing  like  the  influence  of 


2 

mind.  There  is  something  about  wisdom,  which,  independent  of 
all  foreign  considerations,  gives  nobility  and  efficiency  to  the  cha- 
racter. We  admire  wisdom  more  than  any  thing  else,  and  that 
not  simply  because  it  is  beautiful  in  itself,  but  because  we  know 
that  with  but  few  resources  a.nd  very  limited  physical  energies,  it 
can  accomplish  results  wholly  impracticable  to  ignorance  and  folly, 
whatever  resources  they  may  have  at  their  command. 

We  do  not  know  any  thing  particularly  of  the  circumstances  of 
the  poor  man  to  whom  our  text  refers,  nor  how  he  acted  in  order 
to  deliver  the  city.  It  seems,  however,  manifest,  that  his  influence 
owed  not  a  little  of  its  efficiency  to  his  moral  worth,  for  the  wise  man 
places  his  wisdom  in  opposition  to  wickedness — "  Wisdom,"  says 
he,  "  is  better  than  weapons  of  war,  but  one  sinner  destroyeth  much 
good."  The  great  point  then  of  the  text  is,  the  vast  superiority  of 
mental  and  moral  excellence  over  all  mere  physical,  or  simply 
conventional  distinctions.  There  is  a  dignity  about  moral  worth, 
which  extorts,  though  oftentimes  reluctantly,  the  admiration  even 
of  those  who  have  no  heart  to  imitate  it.  Wealth  may  secure  the 
adulation  of  a  cringing  sycophancy  ;  official  station  may  enable  a 
man  to  gather  around  him  a  large  number  of  adherents,  and  throw 
over  them  the  bonds  of  selfishness  and  interest — but  a  man  of  mind 
attracts  attention  without  making  any  appeal  to  interest,  and  a  man 
of  moral  worth  always  secures  a  heartfelt-esteem.  He  may  be  a 
poor  man,  he  may  wear  no  badge  of  office,  he  may  have  no  other 
distinction  but  that  of  moral  worth,  yet  when  we  look  at  him  we 
cannot  help  feeling,  that  "  wisdom  is  better  than  strength."  It 
throws  over  a  man  a  beauty  which  nothing  else  can  impart — it  pre- 
sents a  fountain  of  joy  which  nothing  else  can  open — it  furnishes 
him  a  security  for  all  he  holds  dear,  which  nothing. else  can  pro- 
vide. Nay,  more  than  this — if  strength  is  desirable,  if  physical 
resources  are  valuable,  moral  worth,  all  other  things  being  equal, 
gives  the  best  pledge  for  the  attainment  of  the  former,  and  the  right 
developement  of  the  latter.  These  general  remarks  (are  not  more 
true  of  individuals  than  of  communities.  The  happiness  of  a  nation 
does  not  depend  so  much  upon  the  extent  of  its  territory,  or  upon 
the  peculiarity  of  its  soil,  climate,  and  natural  advantages,  as  upon 
the  character  of  those  who  compose  it.  The  glory  of  the  Church 
consists  not  in  the  greatness  of  her  earthly  resources,  or  the  wide 


3 


circle  of  influence  she  may  describe  around  her,  but,  in  the  spiritu- 
ality of  her  members.  This  is  the  general  principle,  and  as  society 
understands  it  better,  it  settles  down  more  confidently  upon  it,  as 
true — and  all  the  movements  of  the  present  day  which  have  any 
wisdom  about  them,  or  which  are  calculated  to  evolve  any  happy 
results,  recognize  the  truth  of  this  principle.  It  has  now  come  to 
be  a  settled  maxim,  that  there  are  no  foundations  of  true  greatness 
and  happiness  but  those  which  are  laid  in  moral  worth — there  is  no 
advancement  of  society  which  is  not  an  advancement  in  knowledge 
and  virtue.  There  is  no  security  for  present  or  future  good,  but 
that  which  is  found  in  personal  and  social  uprightness.  Observa- 
tion and  experience  have  compelled  the  political  economist  to  take 
into  consideration  moral  causes,  as  having  much  to  do  in  determin- 
ing the  outward  circumstances  and  positions  of  individuals  and 
communities — degradation,  and  misery  being,  even  in  otherwise 
the  most  favourable  circumstances,  the  accompaniments  of  igno- 
rance and  vice,  while  mental  elevation,  and  a  well-cultivated  moral 
sense,  have  ever  been  found,  even  in  circumstances  otherwise  most 
unfavourable,  in  companionship  with  prosperity  and  happiness. 
Principles  like  these  scarcely  call  for  an  illustration.  We,  at  least, 
as  a  people  must  feel  their  truth,  knowing  as  we  do,  that  our  safe- 
guards, and  the  elements  of  our  social  advancement  are  found  in 
the  mental  and  moral  characteristics  of  the  people.  There  is  not 
an  institution  in  our  land,  under  the  influence  of  which  we  live, 
which  is  not  maintained  by  a  favourable  public  sentiment — not  a 
law  which  throws  its  protection  over  us,  which  can  be  enforced  any 
otherwise,  or  any  farther  than  the  moral  sense  of  the  community 
may  sanction  it — hence  the  enlargement  of  the  public  mind,  the 
elevation  of  the  general  tone  of  morals,  the  diffusion  of  knowledge, 
and  knowledge  of  such  a  character  as  rectifies  the  heart,  while 
they  expand  the  intellect,  constitute  our  only  securities.  There  is  in 
every  community  a  vast  amount  of  energy,  and  there  are  constantly 
exciting  causes  to  bring  it  into  action.  You  cannot  permanently 
repress  it,  any  more  than  you  can  forever  smother  the  fires  of  a 
volcano,  but  you  can  control,  and  direct  it  into  proper  channels 
where  it  will  be  a  blessing  instead  of  a  curse — and  thus  you  can 
furnish  in  the  history  of  individuals,  as  well  as  the  community  at 


4 


large,  an  illustration  of  the  maxim,  that  "  wisdom  is  better  than 
strength." 

The  age  in  which  we  live  is  an  age  of  philanthropic  and  Chris- 
tian movement,  and  the  plans,  and  enterprises  of  benevolence, 
which  are  continually  presenting  themselves  to  our  attention,  are 
valuable  and  wise,  and  deserving  of  our  countenance,  as  they  aim 
at  the  public  mind,  with  a  view  to  enlighten  it  and  cultivate  its 
moral  sense.  Among  these  plans,  of  which  the  present  day  is  so 
fruitful,  there  is  one  to  which  I  wish  at  this  time  specially  to  call 
your  attention — one  which  contains  within  itself  the  elements  of  a 
wondrous  power,  but  which,  by  reason  of  its  silent,  unobtrusive 
character,  and  because  its  effects  are  not  in  all  cases  immediate,  is 
very  apt  to  be  lost  sight  of.  I  refer  to  the  plan  of  Sabbath-school 
instruction,  as  worthy  of  our  attention  and  support,  in  every  view 
in  which  we  can  look  at  it,  and  I  wish  to  fix  your  minds  upon  it 
for  a  few  moments,  that  you  may  estimate  its  importance,  as  you 
consider  its  bearings  upon  society,  upon  the  Church  of  God,  and 
upon  individual  character. 

Its  design,  as  you  are  well  aware,  respects  mainly  the  young. 
It  is  to  bring  the  youthful  intellect,  and  the  youthful  heart  of  our 
whole  country  under  the  developing  influence  of  religious  truth. 
In  aiming  at  this  particular  class  of  our  population,  it  is  in  strict 
keeping  with  the  spirit  of  our  age.  For  there  is  no  peculiarity  for 
which  the  present  day  is  more  distinguished  than  its  devotion  to 
youthful  culture.  The  varied  sciences,  which  but  a  few  short  years 
since,  were  contained  only  in  ponderous  volumes,  accessible  to 
few,  and  then  presented  in  such  a  form  as  that  they  could  be  com- 
prehended only  by  ripened  intellects,  have  now  been  simplified  and 
brought  down  almost  to  the  level  of  the  infant's  mind,  and  generally 
diffused.  So  remarkable  is  our  day  for  the  facilities  of  obtaining 
information,  so  accessible  are  the  sources  of  knowledge,  that  there 
is  truth  in  the  remark  so  often  uttered  in  a  spirit  of  satire,  "  that  all 
our  boys  are  men  f  it  is  a  fact  that  they  are  men  in  mind  at  an 
age  when  their  parents  were  but  children.  It  is  a  natural  result  of 
the  present  system  of  things.  As  we  look  then  at  the  crowds  of 
young  immortals,  who  throng  our  streets,  the  inquiry  is  an  interest- 
ing one,  what  character  are  fhey  to  develope  in  the  circumstances 
in  which  they  are  placed,  and  what  is  to  be  the  sphere  and  nature 


5 


of  their  future  action.  We  know  that  those  energies  are  all  to  be 
brought  forth,  and  to  tell  in  some  direction  with  great  efficiency, 
and  that  in  their  hands  are  lodged  the  means  of  the  ruin,  or  the  glory 
of  the  community.  They  may  prostrate  in  an  hour,  all  that  has 
been  consecrated  by  past  generations  to  truth,  virtue,  and  happi- 
ness, or  they  may  lay  their  foundations  deeper,  and  send  their  in- 
fluences far  beyond  the  limits  within  which  they  are  now  confined. 

Statesmen  and  philosophers  understand  this  matter  perfectly — 
hence  the  simplifying  of  knowledge,  and  the  facilities  for  its  attain- 
ment, which  are  so  worydrously  multiplying — hence  the  system  of 
national  instruction  which  has  sprung  up,  and  is  maintained  by 
public  sentiment,  and  by  public  resources.  The  days  of  ignorance, 
in  this  land,  have  gone  by — the  days  of  light  have  come.  There 
will  be  mental  developemcnt.  You  might  as  well  roll  back  the 
Atlantic,  as  stay  the  advancing  tide  of  intelligence.  Yes,  and  we 
may  glory  in  this,  as  one  of  the  peculiar  features  of  our  age,  and 
he  is  not  a  man,  much  less  a  Christian,  who  would  wish  it  changed  ; 
and  yet,  amid  all  the  appliances  of  means  of  intellectual  culture, 
which  abound  so  greatly,  there  is  no  influence  which  determines 
the  character  of  that  developement  which  they  certainly  secure — 
there  is  no  assurance,  in  any  of  our  civic  arrangements,  that  the 
mind  which  we  are  thus  educating  will  not  be  a  wild  and  ungovern- 
able mind  ;  an  instructed  mind,  but  uninstructed  in  righteousness  ; 
with  powers  fitted  for  mighty  achievements,  but  wholly  ignorant  of 
the  moral  influence  which  alone  can  direct  those  powers  to  right 
ends. 

The  Church  of  God  would  be  recreant  to  her  trust,  if  she  should 
be  behind  the  spirit  of  the  age,  or  fail  to  furnish  the  great  desidera- 
tum of  education,  which  the  circumstances  of  the  times,  now,  more 
than  ever,  demand — a  religious  tutelage.  In  reference  to  this 
matter  we  have  not  been  wholly  inactive,  nor  can  we  say  that  more 
effective  measures  than  any  which  have  hitherto  been  put  forth, 
might  not  be  adopted.  As  it  is  at  present,  the  Sunday-school  ser- 
vice constitutes  the  means  upon  which  we  are  mainly  dependent  to 
affect  even  the  children  of  the  Church  herself,  and  wholly  depend- 
ent to  affect  those  who  are  without  its  pale ;  and  though  the  service 
is  a  noiseless  one,  it  tells  with  effect  wherever  it  reaches. 

Cast  your  eye  over  a  Sabbath-school — there  are  young  minds, 


6 


drawn  away  from  those  deteriorating  influences,  which  seem  to 
work  with  greater  power,  on  that,  than  on  any  other  day — and  col- 
lected in  happy  moral  associations,  and  under  the  influence  of  reli- 
gious truth,  brought  down  to  their  capacities,  in  the  same  way  in 
which  knowledge  upon  all  other  subjects  is  simplified.  You  can- 
not fail  to  perceive  that  under  this  reiterated  action  week  after 
week,  there  is  going  on  a  process  of  healthful  mental  developement. 
You  have  here  the  secret  unfolded,  by  which  mind  may  be  enlisted 
in  its  own  advancement — for  the  religious  element  of  human  nature 
is  taken  hold  upon,  as  information  is  introduced  in  connection  with 
themes  which  must  awaken  attention  and  kindle  emotion.  Now 
study  this  process  well,  and  when  you  have  seen  and  made  your- 
selves acquainted  with  its  action — conceive  of  it  as  universal,  of  the 
influence  of  the  system  extending  through  the  length  and  breadth 
of  the  land,  of  this  process  going  on  from  week  to  week,  regularly 
as  the  Sabbath-day  returns — conceive  every  child  in  our  country 
reached  and  affected  by  it, — and  can  you  form  any  calculation  as  to 
its  results,  or  doubt  as  to  the  character  of  the  generation  whose 
minds  should  be  thus  developed  ? 

Certainly  we  should  have  every  thing  to  hope  for  from  the  uni- 
versality of  the  system,  and  nothing  to  fear — unless  indeed  men  are 
afraid  of  the  prevalence  of  knowledge,  and  the  power  of  a  high 
sense  of  moral  rectitude — for  the  Sabbath-schools  of  our  land  must, 
so  far  as  their  influence  extends,  raise  up  a  population  intelligent 
and  high-minded,  who  will  frown  upon  wickedness,  and  set  their 
faces  against  the  inroads  of  unrighteousness.  Limited  as  their  in- 
fluence, comparatively  speaking,  has  been  thus  far,  yet  even  now, 
reflecting  and  observant  minds  point  to  them  as  the  birth-place  of 
not  a  little  of  the  conservatism  of  the  country,  which  will  increase, 
and  become  more  effective,  as  the  power  which  originates  it  is  more 
extensively  diffused. 

There  are,  I  am  well  aware,  doubters — there  have  been  ever 
since  sin  entered  into  the  world — there  never  yet  has  been  a  plan 
of  usefulness,  an  enterprise  of  good  started,  without  finding  enough 
to  prophesy  a  failure — the  system  of  which  we  are  speaking  is  not 
an  exception  to  this  general  rule — and  yet,  thus  far  there  has  been 
no  failure.  True,  the  results  have  not  been  such  as  we  might  have 
wished,  but  in  view  of  the  expenditure  of  means  and  efforts,  they 


7 


have  been  more  than  we  could  rationally  have  hoped  for,  and  yet 
these  results  are  of  such  a  character  that  they  are  but  partially  dis- 
closed— and  the  reason  why  the  manifest  results  have  not  been 
greater,  why  its  influence  has  not  been  more  extensive,  and  its 
power  more  generally  felt,  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  system  itself, 
in  any  mistake  in  the  principles  upon  which  it  proceeds,  or  in  an 
essential  defect  in  the  machinery  which  it  sets  in  motion,  but  in  the 
limited  degree  to  which  it  has- secured  the  sympathies,  and  the 
practical  regards  of  the  Christian  community.  Oh,  if  we  had  but 
given  to  it  a  moiety  of  the  interest,  and  expended  upon  it  half  the 
effort,  and  half  the  resources  which  have  been  given  and  expend- 
ed in  the  case  of  some  splendid  monuments  of  mistaken  philan- 
thropy, systems  good  in  their  design  but  false  in  the  principles 
upon  which  they  proceed,  and  in  their  means  defeating  the  very 
end  which  they  professedly  aim  to  secure — systems  intended  to 
relieve  and  raise  the  poor  man,  but  gaining  our  suffrages  only  by 
the  deceptive  appearances  of  wisdom  which  they  put  on,  which 
may  indeed  comfort,  and  elevate  their  subjects  for  the  moment, 
only  to  sink  them  deeper  than  before,  increasing  the  sources  of 
public  wretchedness,  by  the  very  means  adopted  to  exhaust  them — 
giving  a  man  a  sense  of  independence  by  making  him  feel  how 
truly  dependent  he  is — systems  thus  not  merely  of  mistaken  phi- 
lanthropy, but  of  practical  mischief,  which  rears  all  over  the  land 
receptacles  for  poverty,  which  meet  a  man  only  at  the  spot  where 
he  ceases  to  feel  himself  a  man,  and  promise  him  protection  and 
support,  only  as  he  becomes  debased  enough  to  receive  them — if 
we  were  to  expend  half  the  effort  and  half  the  resources,  upon  the 
institution  whose  claims  we  are  this  day  advocating,  demanded  by 
the  system  which  thus  raises  these  morbid,  and  enlarging  excres- 
cences upon  the  body  social  and  political,  we  should  have  in  the 
next  generation  less  need  of  any  of  these  plans  of  fictitious  bene- 
volence, which  curse  the  very  subjects  whom  they  aim  to  bless  ; 
because  we  should  raise  up  a  population,  which,  as  intelligent, 
would  disdain  the  degradation  to  which  these  systems  would  sink 
them,  and,  as  virtuous,  would  not  require  the  aid  they  are  intended 
to  bestow. 

We  must  have,  my  brethren,  some  means  not  simply  of  instruc- 
tion, but  of  religious  tutelage.   It  is  the  requirement,  alike  of  Chris- 


s 


tianity  and  patriotism  and  sound  political  economy  and  common 
sense,  but  in  the  land  in  which  we  live,  there  is  no  institution,  in 
which  the  youthful  mind  can  be  religiously  developed,  but  the  Sab- 
bath-school— 'nor,  in  our  present  circumstances,  do  we  see  how 
there  can  beany  but  one  which  will  illustrate  its  general  principles. 
And  in  view  of  this  truth,  if  it  is  a  truth,  we  may  well  gather  around 
it,  and  give  it  our  sympathies,  and  cordial  co-operation.  It  will 
not  do  for  us  to  look  upon  it  with  an  unkindly  eye,  nor  to  cast 
upon  it  the  cold  breath  of  indifference,  appealing,  as  it  does  to  us, 
as  philanthropists,  as  patriots,  and  as  Christians — and,  if  we  see 
that  there  are  in  it  elements  of  blessing,  unattainable  under  present 
circumstances,  by  any  other  means,  then  we  should  feel  the  obli- 
gation, resting  upon  us,  as  those  who  are  to  look,  not  every  man  at 
his  own  things,  but  every  man  also  at  the  things  of  others,  to  give 
it  our  sympathies  and  support.  This  is  my  first  general  view  of 
the  subject  before  us. 

II.  We  have,  however,  another  view,  in  which  it  becomes  us, 
especially  as  Christians,  to  look  at  our  subject — for  if  I  mistake 
not,  the  Church  of  God  has  in  this  matter,  a  deep  interest.  If  there 
is  a  topic  which  should  enlist  her  attention,  awaken  her  anxieties, 
and  secure  her  pains-taking  and  care,  we  have  it  here — for  the 
question,  if  not  of  her  existence,  at  least  of  her  enlargement  is  in- 
volved. 

The  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  must  look  mainly  to  the  rising  gene- 
ration, because,  so  far  as  earthly  influences  are  concerned,  she  has 
every  thing  to  hope  for,  or  to  fear  from  them.  What  she  is  to  do 
depends  upon  what  they  shall  be.  In  view  of  the  fact,  which  every 
page  of  the  Church's  history  presents  to  the  eye,  that  the  gospel 
triumphs  especially  among  the  youthful  portion  of  our  population, 
and,  comparatively  speaking,  achieves  but  few  of  its  victories 
among  those  whose  character  has  become  matured,  and  whose 
habits  of  thought  and  action  have  become  fixed  by  age — if  she 
lay  out  her  plans  for  the  extension  of  her  boundaries,  and  for  the 
success  of  the  gospel — if  she  would  act  wisely  and  well  adapt  her 
means  to  her  ends — if  she  would  strike  the  blow  where  it  will  be 
most  surely  felt,  and  will  tell  with  the  greatest  power,  she  must 
direct  her  efforts  mainly  to  those  who  are  springing  up  into  man- 
hood all  around  her — she  must  seize  upon  all  whom  she  can  by 


9 


any  means  bring  under  her  influence,  while  the  forming  process  is 
going  on,  or  at  least  before  character  is  fixed,  and  principles  of 
thought  and  action  have  attained  the  stiffness  of  maturity.  The 
children  of  this  world,  who,  as  our  Saviour  tells  us,  are  wiser  in 
their  generation,  than  the  children  of  light,  have  already  shown  us 
that  this  is  the  soundest  philosophy,  because  it  ullimately  secures 
the  happiest  results,  with  the  greatest  economy  of  human  efforts. 
We  must,  indeed,  be  blind  to  all  that  is  passing  around  us  in  the 
world,  if  we  have  not  observed  that  this  is  the  philosophy  of  all  the 
antagonist  systems  to  the  gospel.  You  find  them  in  their  practi- 
cal working,  taking  every  where  positions  whence  they  can  act 
most  effectively  upon  the  young.  There  are  no  noisy  demonstra- 
tions about  them,  no  array  of  any  wondrous  influences,  or  stupen- 
dous machinery  which  attracts  attention — their  movements  are 
silent,  unobserved— their  influence  insidious,  as  they  use  their  ap- 
pliances especially  upon  the  youthful  mind.  The  powers  of  hosti- 
lity to  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  are  aiming,  not  to  bring  men 
over  to  their  ranks,  but  to  secure  a  developement  of  character 
where  it  is  not  yet  formed,  and  which  shall  be  favourable  to  their 
designs.  We  talk  a  great  deal  of  the  onward  movement  of  the 
Church  of  God,  and  she  is  moving  onward — but  we  do  not  under- 
stand the  signs  of  the  times,  if  we  do  not  perceive  the  evidences  of 
a  coming  conflict.  The  lines  between  truth  and  error,  are  every 
day  drawn  with  great  distinctness — and  preparations  are  making 
for  the  contest.  That  conflict  will,  in  all  probability,  be  fought,  not 
by  us,  but  by  our  children — the  rising  generation  are  to  be  the 
actors  in  the  scenes  of  struggle  and  strife,  which  are  to  precede  the 
final  triumph  of  the  gospel. 

And  now  the  great  question  is,  how  we  shall  reach  this  rising 
generation,  so  as  best  to  secure  in  their  experience,  the  present 
effect  of  the  gospel,  and  prepare  them  for  the  parts  which  they  shall 
be  called  to  act  hereafter.  The  question,  I  beg  you  to  observe,  is  not 
how,  abstractly  considered,  the  gospel  may  be  made  to  tell  with 
most  power  upon  the  youthful  mind — not  what  would  be  the  most 
efficient  plan  of  operation,  if  it  could  be  fully  carried  out — though 
taking  even  this  view,  the  system  we  are  advocating  should  advance 
strong  claims  to  our  attention — but  the  question  is,  what  is  the 
most  feasible  plan,  in  the  present  circumstances,  and  under  the  pre- 

2 


10 

sent  arrangements  of  ecclesiastical  and  civil  society?  It  is  the 
established  order  of  God,  that  the  youthful  mind  should  be  deve- 
loped under  domestic  influence,  and  that  our  children  should  be 
trained  at  the  domestic  altar.  No  system  can  be  wise,  none  can 
be  successful,  because  it  cannot  secure  the  blessing  of  God,  which, 
in  its  principles,  overlooks,  or  in  its  practical  working  tends  to  dis- 
turb, this  heavenly  arrangement.  No  influence  can  safely  dispense 
with  parental  influence — and  the  Church  of  God  should  be  prompt 
to  frown  upon  every  system  which  would,  in  the  least  degree, 
weaken  a  sense  of  parental  obligation,  as  aiming,  not  perhaps  de- 
signedly and  openly,  but  really  and  covertly,  a  death-blow  at  her 
prosperity.  No,  I  would  have  a  crushing  sense  of  responsibility 
come  upon  every  parental  mind.  I  would  have  every  parent  feel 
his  answerablcness  to  God  and  the  Church,  and  to  society  at  large, 
for  the  character  his  child  should  exhibit,  and  the  part  he  should 
act  in  future  life.  But  then,  my  brethren,  what  shall  we  say  of 
cases,  where  no  sense  of  obligation  exists?  What  shall  we  say  of 
the  hundreds  and  thousands  of  young  immortals,  with  regard  to 
whom,  so  far  as  their  moral  and  spiritual  welfare  is  concerned,  no 
parental  interest  is  felt,  and  upon  whom  no  parental  feeling  and 
effort  are  expended?  Does  the  Church  of  God  owe  nothing  to 
them?  Must  the  ruin  of  the  young  necessarily  follow  "  the  blood- 
guiltiness"  of  the  parent?  "  God  forbid."  Does  the  Church — does 
society,  owe  nothing  to  itself  in  reference  to  them  ?  Must  they  ne- 
cessarily grow  up  to  be  the  enemies  of  religion,  and  scourges  of 
the  community?  The  point  here  is  not  to  choose  between  Sabbath- 
school  instruction  and  the  instruction  of  the  domestic  fire-side, 
equally  constant  and  faithful — but  it  is  to  choose  between  religious 
and  irreligious  developement  of  character.  These  minds  will  ex- 
pand— they  will  act  under  some  influences,  and  in  some  associa- 
tions. Shall  they  act  under  the  influence  and  amid  the  associations 
of  the  Sabbath-school,  or  those  of  a  directly  opposite  character? 
Will  you  choose  the  gnarled  and  knotted  tree  which  grows  up  in 
the  wilderness,  unsightly  to  the  eye  and  useless  in  its  productions, 
cumbering  the  ground  which  gives  it  support — or  the  tree  which 
springs  up  under  the  hand  of  judicious  cultivation,  comely  to  the 
sight  and  delightful  in  the  fruit  which  it  yields.  I  do  not  know — I 
cannot  see  how,  in  any  other  way  than  the  one  of  which  we  are 


11 


speaking,  an  influence  of  a  strictly  religious  character,  can  be 
brought  to  bear  upon  this  class  of  minds — but  I  do  know  that  there 
is  a  process  of  religious  tutelage  going  on  every  Sabbath,  which  is 
efficient  so  far  as  it  reaches.  The  truth  is  brought  home  to  children, 
and  in  a  manner  level  to  their  capacities — and  it  is  the  only  means 
to  secure  a  right  developement  of  character,  spiritual  safety,  and 
good  influence  in  these  cases,  upon  which  the  Church  of  God  can 
now  depend.  Destroy  it,  paralyze  its  influence,  and  you  blot  out 
the  hopes  of  countless  multitudes — you  leave  them  to  go  on  in  a 
career  which  unrestrained  natural  desires  and  unholy  influences 
will  mark  out  for  them,  to  be  curses  to  the  Church  of  God — many 
of  them  outcasts  of  society,  and  almost  all  of  them  eternal  exiles 
from  heaven. 

Nor  is  the  institution  of  which  we  speak  without  its  influence, 
even  where  parental  responsibility  is  felt,  in  increasing  a  sense  of 
it,  and  securing  its  faithful  discharge.  It  has,  indeed,  been  sup- 
posed, that  its  plans  and  mode  of  action  might  affect  injuriously  the 
parental  conscience,  and  invade  the  sphere  of  parental  effort — and 
yet  facts  seem  thus  far  to  have  established  a  different  theory. 
Parents  naturally  take  an  interest  in  that  which  interests  their 
children — and  when  these  children  retire  from  the  scene  of  Sab- 
bath study,  they  carry  with  them,  in  the  interest  which  is  awaken- 
ed in  their  minds,  an  influence  which  gives  wakefulness  to  the  pa- 
rental mind  in  reference  to  the  very  subjects  to  which  their  atten- 
tion has  been  turned — and  thus  truth  is  carried  to  many  a  house- 
hold, where  otherwise  it  might  never  enter,  and  obligations  are 
felt,  where  before  they  had  been  wholly  neglected,  and  more  right- 
fully discharged,  where  before  they  had  been  but  partially  respect- 
ed. If  the  annals  of  the  Christian  Church  were  carefully  examined 
upon  this  subject,  I  think  her  history  would  fully  bear  me  out  in 
all  the  positions  I  have  assumed.  Never,  I  imagine,  has  the  sub- 
ject of  youthful  tutelage  excited  more  interested  attention  than  it 
has  under  the  present  system.  Granted,  if  you  please,  that  many 
of  the  disciples  of  Jesus  Christ  were  faithful  before  in  the  sphere  of 
their  domestic  duties,  they  are  none  the  less  faithful  now,  while 
the  means  they  enjoy  of  accomplishing  their  ends,  are  more  nu- 
merous and  better  than  they  ever  were  before — while  in  many 
cases,  of  great  unfaithfulness  in  this,  respect,  the  parental  conscience 


12 


has  been  enlightened,  and  the  pressure  of  public  opinion,  and  out- 
ward circumstances,  have  been  brought  to  bear  upon  the  discharge 
of  duty,  and  where  the  duty  has  not  even  been  thought  of,  it  has 
risen  with  all  its  peculiar  impressiveness  to  the  mind.  The  modes 
and  plans  of  action  in  this  department  have  been,  to  a  great  ex- 
tent it  may  be,  changed,  but  the  amount  of  action  has  been  in- 
creased, and  never,  we  believe,  has  there  been  so  great  a  degree 
of  Christian  influence  brought  to  bear  upon  the  youthful  mind  as 
at  the  present  moment. 

And  then,  if  you  look  at  the  practical  working  of  the  system, 
you  will  see  the  interest  the  Church  of  God  has  in  it,  from  its 
bearings  upon  the  present  and  future  condition  of  those  who  are 
brought  fully  within  its  reach.  We  do  not  suppose,  that  by  the 
influence  of  the  Sabbath-school  alone,  we  are  elevating  its  subjects 
to  the  distinctions  of  earth — though  so  far  as  moral  causes  have 
any  bearing  upon  temporal  happiness,  we  are  doing  a  great  deal 
to  secure  such  an  elevation.  We  do  not  calculate  upon  leading 
these  children  in  the  path  crowded  by  the  sons  of  ambition,  nor 
upon  introducing  them  to  the  walks  where  the  daughters  of  mirth 
and  splendour  are  taking  their  brief  promenade.  We  would  not  do 
so  if  we  could.  We  are  doing  more  and  better  for  them  than  this. 
We  are  making  them  happier  in  their  earthly  circumstances — we 
are  preparing  them  for  respectability  and  usefulness,  in  whatever 
sphere  Providence  may  call  them  to  move,  by  enlightening  their 
minds,  elevating  their  affections,  and  bringing  their  souls  under  the 
sanctifying  influences  of  the  truth.  We  are  taking  them  to  the 
cross  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  teaching  them  to  hang  their  immortal 
hopes  upon  it.  Under  our  instrumentality  they  are  becoming  chil- 
dren of  God,  the  heirs  of  eternal  life.  The  conversions,  which 
are  taking  place  in  early  life,  are  in  the  main,  the  results  of  im- 
pressions received  in  the  Sabbath-school — miy,  I  may  go  farther 
upon  this  point,  and  say,  that  usually  the  first  indications  of  a  revi- 
val of  religion  are  seen  in  the  Sabbath-school. 

It  is  not  a  common  thing  for  a  child  to  lose  the  early  impres- 
sions which  he  here  receives,  or  to  dishonour  the  instructions  of  a 
faithful  and  devoted  teacher.  It  is  rare  to  find  the  succeeding  his- 
tory of  a  Sabbath-scholar  marked  by  open  abandonment.  God's 
providence  is  continually  illustrating  his  truth,  that  if  you  "  train 


13 


up  a  child  in  the  way  he  should  go,  when  he  is  old  he  will  not 
depart  from  it."  Some  of  the  brightest  ornaments  of  the  Christian 
profession,  some  of  the  most  effective  and  honoured  labourers  in 
the  Redeemer's  vineyard,  began  their  Christian  career  in  early  life, 
and  point  to  the  Sabbath-school  as  their  spiritual  birth-place — and 
many  a  song  now  sung  in  heaven,  had  never  been  heard  but  for 
this  blessed  institution. 

I  need  not  go  into  statistics,  to  show  the  need  of  increased  effort 
in  this  cause.  The  evidences  of  that  need  present  themselves  on 
every  side  to  the  view.  Nor  need  I  exhibit  the  results  of  these 
efforts.  They  are  too  numerous  and  palpable  to  be  overlooked. 
But  I  will,  before  I  conclude,  suggest  two  thoughts,  which  may 
serve  to  commend  the  object  I  advocate  to  your  sincerest  regards. 

1.  We  cannot  doubt  that  its  design  is  good.  We  add  now,  that 
it  is  effective  to  accomplish  its  design,  by  reason  of  its  great  sim- 
plicity. Generally  speaking,  in  the  physical,  mental,  and  moral 
world,  the  most  effective  instrumentalities  are  the  most  simple. 
Wh^f  mechanical  power  more  simple,  and  at  the  same  time  more 
effective,  than  the  lever?  Truth,  presented  in  its  simplest  forms, 
has  the  greatest  influence  over  the  mind,  while  a  complicated  sys- 
tem of  moral  means  answers  scarcely  any  other  end  than  to  show 
the  folly  and  impotence  of  its  projector.  We  have  claimed  as  an 
admitted  principle,  that  nothing  can  give  permanency  to  the  insti- 
tutions of  the  Church  of  God,  perpetuate  her  privileges,  and  ex- 
tend her  boundaries,  which  does  not  bring  her  to  regard  particu- 
larly her  youth,  and  lead  to  the  fulfilment  of  parental  obligation 
likewise.  Where  these  obligations  are  fulfilled,  under  the  blessing 
of  God,  the  Church  must  advance  in  a  career  of  success  and  pros- 
perity— and  what  can,  in  the  present  circumstances  of  society, 
secure  such  a  result  so  certainly,  because  in  a  manner  so  simple, 
as  the  institution  of  which  we  are  now  speaking? 

2.  My  other  thought  relates  to  the  catholic  spirit  of  this  enterprise. 
In  its  general  aspect  and  working,  it  is  entirely  free  from  every 
thing  like  sectarian  peculiarity.  It  interferes  with  the  particular 
tenets  of  no  one  Christian  denomination,  while  it  combines  the 
truly  Christian  feeling  and  influence  of  the  whole;  and  I  look  upon 
this  feature  of  it  as  not  only  giving  to  it  an  additional  degree  of 
power,  but  as  also  constituting  one  of  its  greatest  glories.  There 


14 


never  was  perhaps  an  age  in  the  history  of  the  Christian  Church, 
when  the  signs  of  the  times  so  strongly  condemned  sectarianism, 
and  demanded  of  the  Christian  Church  that  she  present  an  unbroken 
phalanx  to  her  common  enemy ;  and  yet,  if  I  do  not  mistake  great- 
ly the  signs  of  the  limes,  the  evidences  of  a  growing  sectarianism 
are  becoming  more  clear  and  distinct.  I  am  not  one,  you  will 
bear  me  witness,  to  sanction  latitudinarianism  of  principle,  or  to 
advocate  the  feeling  which  would  lead  one  to  throw  the  mantle  of 
charity  over  the  greatest  errors — and  yet  I  would  stand  myself, 
and  have  all  whom  I  can  influence,  to  stand  upon  the  broad  ground 
of  a  Catholic  Christtamtv.  I  have  my  own  peculiar  views,  which 
distinguish  me  from  many  others.  I  advocate  the  principles  pecu- 
liar to  the  body  in  whose  ministry  I  stand  from  conviction  and 
choice,  and  I  do  not  know  of  one  of  them  which  I  would  yield  in 
a  contest  concerning  them,  satisfied  as  I  am,  that  the  great  system 
of  doctrine  which  we  teach  is  more  consonant  as  a  whole  to  the 
Bible,  and  to  the  dictates  of  right  reason,  than  any  other  system 
with  which  I  am  acquainted.  If  I  did  not  think  and  fee^so  I 
should  not  be  here  to-day. 

But  then  it  has  been  well  remarked,  that  the  vital  power  of  the 
gospel  does  not  reside  in  any  one  peculiarity,  or  in  any  one  mode 
of  exhibiting  and  illustrating  it.  It  is  not  the  distinctive  feature  of 
any  one  evangelical  body,  which  is  mighty  through  God  to  the 
pulling  down  of  strong  holds.  The  world  is  to  be  converted  to 
Jesus  Christ,  not  by  the  enforcement  of  those  points  upon  which 
evangelical  Christians  differ,  but  of  those  in  reference  to  which 
they  are  agreed.  In  the  former  way  you  may  make  men  staunch 
sectarians,  but  never  can  make  them  Christians.  In  taking  this 
position,  and  acting  upon  these  principles,  I  do  not  throw  away 
one  iota  of  what  I  deem  important,  but  only  wield  with  greater 
effectiveness  that  which  I  deem  essential.  I  love  the  peculiarities 
of  my  own  professed  faith,  but  I  love  spiritual  Christianity  more. 
I  had  rather  see  a  man  a  Christian,  even  if  he  does  not  agree  with 
me  in  every  thing,  than  find  him  adopting  theoretically  all  my 
peculiarities,  while  he  gave  no  evidence  of  a  change  of  heart — and 
wherever  I  can  meet,  on  common  ground,  with  the  true  disciples 
of  Jesus  Christ,  I  am  willing  to  forego  peculiarities,  in  order  to  ad- 
vance with  greater  power  and  success  our  common  faith. 


15 


Proceeding  upon  this  principle,  the  institution  whose  claims  we 
advocate,  is  gifted  with  a  power  which  it  could  not  otherwise  exert. 
The  truths  which  it  brings  to  bear  upon  the  minds  of  the  young, 
are  the  great  essential  truths  of  the  gospel,  in  which  all  evangeli- 
cal Christians  agree,  and  it  is  worth  all  it  costs,  as  a  simple  exhi- 
bition of  the  catholicity  of  the  Church  of  God.  In  some  of  the  de- 
tails of  its  operations,  it  may  indeed  strike  many,  as  susceptible  of 
improvement,  for  nothing  merely  human  is  perfect,  and  in  refer- 
ence to  these  experience  teaches  wisdom;  but  as  it  is,  it  can  effect 
what  no  merely  denominational  effort  can  accomplish — it  can  go 
where  no  sectarian  body  as  such  can  go,  and  thus  throw  the  in- 
fluence of  the  gospel  over  hundreds  and  thousands,  who,  so  far  as  we 
can  see,  could  be  reached  by  no  religious  instrumentality  whatever. 
As  patriots,  then,  and  philanthropists,  but  more  as  Christians,  we 
bid  it  "  God  speed,"  and  we  would  that  all  the  people  should  say 
"  Amen." 

In  its  behalf  then,  is  our  appeal  addressed  to  you  to-day.  We 
ask  for  it  your  sympathy,  your  prayers,  and  your  cordial  co-ope- 
ration. We  ask  you  to  lend  your  influence  to  a  cause  so  holy. 
We  would  that  all  around  us  might  be  gathered  in  under  its  in- 
fluence. We  can  do  much  in  the  sphere  in  which  God  has  called 
us  to  move,  to  further  its  high  design.  We  can  give  it  the  weight 
of  our  countenance  and  example.  We  can  take  the  little  wander- 
ers whom  we  find  astray,  and  guide  them  to  these  scenes  of  scrip- 
tural effort  and  instruction.  We  appeal,  in  its  behalf,  to  the  young 
people  of  our  charge,  to  secure  their  personal  effort.  We  ask  them 
if  they  are  not  willing  to  consecrate  a  small  portion  of  their  time, 
which  we  are  sure  could  not  be  better  employed,  to  this  benevo- 
lent effort.  There  is  perhaps  no  better  sphere  for  the  develope- 
ment  of  Christian  character — no  Christian  employment  which  can 
engage  your  powers  with  higher  advantage  to  yourselves.  There  are 
too  many  of  our  youth  who  are  little  better  than  loiterers  about  the 
vineyard  of  the  Master,  and  who  come,  by  means  of  religious  in- 
activity, to  be  mere  ciphers  in  the  Redeemer's  kingdom;  and  sure 
we  are,  that  you  could  not  have  a  more  rational  and  dignified,  and 
honourable  employment,  than  that  of  labouring  to  train  up  immor- 
tal minds  for  usefulness  in  this  world,  and  for  glory,  honour,  and 
immortality,  in  the  world  to  come.    Society  has  claims  upon  you, 


16 


and  we  call  you  to  meet  them.  The  Church  of  Christ  has  claims 
upon  you,  and  we  call  you  to  meet  them.  God  has  claims  upon 
you — and  the  unbaptized,  and  unblessed  population  of  youth  around 
you,  have  claims  upon  you,  und  we  call  you  to  meet  and  answer 
them  ;  and  while  thus  we  give  our  personal  efforts  to  render  per- 
manent and  effective  the  influences  of  this  institution,  in  the  sphere 
around  us,  let  us  give  our  aid  to  widen  its  sphere  of  action,  to  ex- 
tend its  blessings  over  our  whole  land.  If  it  is  one  of  the  founda- 
tions of  the  hopes  of  our  country  and  of  the  Church  of  God — if  it 
contains  within  itself,  as  we  have  supposed,  the  elements  of  a  won- 
drous conservative  power — if  it  wields  the  only  spiritual  influence, 
by  which  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of  the  rising  generation 
can  be  reached — we  ought  not  to  be  satisfied  till  every  community 
in  our  widely  extended  country,  shall  be  blessed  by  it — till  its  in- 
fluence is  thrown  over  the  whole  of  our  youthful  population — and 
we  are  unfaithful  to  ourselves,  to  the  Church,  and  our  country,  if 
we  will  not  aid  in  bringing  about  such  a  happy  consummation. 

My  brethren,  my  illustration  is  finished,  and  my  appeal  is  before 
you.  I  will  not  believe,  until  you  practically  declare  it,  that  I 
have  spoken  to-day  in  vain.  May  God  give  us  grace  to  act  as  we 
feel  it  to  be  our  duty,  and  then  may  we  look  for  his  blessing  to 
render  that  action  effectual. 


IL IB®  A3EI3!  15 " 

FOR  SUNDAY-SCHOOLS,  FAMILIES,  ETC. 


THE  AMERICAN  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  UNION,  No.  146  Chestnut  street,  Philadelphia,  is 
prepared  to  furnish  Libraries  of  the  following  descriptions,  suited  for  Sunday-schools,  public  and 
private  schools,  families,  manufactories,  steamboats,  &c. 

No.  I. — 484  volumes,  being  a  full  set  of  the  Society's  publications,  exclusive  of  Maps  and  Ques- 
tion Books,  &c,  each  book  numbered  on  the  back,  with  100  Catalogues  of  the  same,  without  a  case, 
$90  00 ;  including  Maps  of  the  Ancient  World  and  Palestine,  $92  50 ;  and  the  whole  in  a  neat 
case,  S97  50. 

No.  II.— SO  volumes,  with  25  Catalogues,  and  a  case,  $20  00 ;  without  a  case,  $17  50. 

No.  III. — 100  volumes,  selected  for  Sunday-schools,  $25  00 ;  without  case,  $22  50. 

No.  IV. — Child's  Library.  This  consists  of  books  of  32mo  size,  commencing  with  the  third 
series  and  ending  with  the  sixth,  bound  in  18  volumes,  price  $2  25. 

THE  CHEAPEST  LIBRARY  EVER  PUBLISHED  FOR  SUNDAY-SCHOOLS  AND 
FAMILIES. — 100  select  volumes,  from  72  pages  to  252  pages,  18mo,  substantially  bound,  with 
muslin  backs  and  marbled-paper  sides :  each  volume  regularly  numbered  and  ready  for  use,  with 
25  catalogues  of  the  same.    Only  $10  00. 


RECOMMENDATIONS. 

"  The  American  Sunday-school  Union  has  conferred  an  immense  benefit  upon  the  Christian  public,  repaying 
tenfold  the  contributions  it  has  received,  by  its  numerous  publications.  They  have  been  valuable  from  the  begin- 
ning ;  but  we  observe  with  pleasure  that  the  books  published  by  the  Union  during  the  last  year  are  superior  in 
Bome  respects  to  its  previous  publications.  Some  of  the  most  elevated  minds  in  our  country  have  recently  been 
engaged  in  preparing  works  for  the  Union.  Formerly  its  committee  reprinted  books  from  the  London  press  :  now 
those  of  the  Union  are  reprinted  in  London.  They  are  fitted  for  youth  of  all  ages,  classes,  and  characters ;  and  as 
they  inculcate  evangelical  truth,  without  any  thing  to  offend  political  or  denominational  preferences,  they  may  be 
introduced  with  propriety  into  every  school  and  family  in  our  country."— Southern  Religious  Telegraph. 

Views  of  Rev.  James  B.  Taylor,  of  the  Baptist  Church,  Richmond,  Va.—U  The  providence  of  God  most  loudly 
calls  on  the  American  public  to  give  a  more  extensive  circulation  to  these  volumes.  An  engine  of  incalculable, 
yet  salutary  power  is  furnished,  and  it  may  at  will  be  made  to  operate  with  continually  increasing  force.  At  a 
comparatively  small  expense,  any  neighbourhood,  and  without  difficulty,  the  whole  nation  itself,  may  be  supplied. 
Where  are  our  men  of  property  who  wish  to  make  a  profitable  use  of  their  money  in  such  an  investment  as  shall 
benefit  their  posterity  1  Where  are  onr  patriots  who  desire  the  perpetuation  of  our  venerated  institutions  ?  Our 
philanthropists,  who  seek  the  weal  of  their  species  ?  Let  them  look  at  these  facilities  for  effecting  extensive  good 
to  their  country  and  the  world.  A  single  man  may,  through  thrse  volumes,  be  the  instrument  of  making  im- 
pressions on  a  thousand  minds,  which  shall  survive  the  records  of  time.  While  canals  are  opened,  and  railroads 
constructed,  and  every  species  of  improvement  is  receiving  most  liberal  encouragement,  here  is  an  enterprise 
which  promises  to  improve  the  intellect  and  morals  of  the  present  age." 

"The  books  prepared  and  issued  by  the  American  Sunday-school  Union  now  amount  to  a  very  considerable 
number,  and  are  admirably  adapted  to  aid  in  the  work  of  Sunday-school  instruction,  and  to  inform  and  interest 
the  minds  of  children  and  youth.  They  furnish  valuable  and  ample  materials  not  only  for  the  Sabbath-school 
library,  but  also  for  the  family  library  designed  for  the  young." — J\rew  York  Christian  Intelligencer. 

From  the  JVeio  York  Baptist  Register. — "They  have  been  prepared  with  care.  Many  of  them  are  from  the 
pens  of  the  best  writers  in  the  country.  It  will  be  remembered,  that  at  the  meeting  of  the  Baptist  Convention  at 
Syracuse  last  year,  a  resolution  was  unanimously  adopted,  recommending  the  Society  to  the  confidence  and  sup- 
port of  Baptist  churches." 

"  I  have  had  the  opportunity  to  examine  all  that  they  have  published,  from  the  alphabet  up  to  the  last  beautiful 
Annual.  This  examination  has  been  not  slight.  It  must  be  remembered  that  they  prepare  books  for  the  infant 
school,  for  the  adult  school,  for  the  poor  of  large  cities,  in  which  ignorance  and  stupidity  are  gathered—for  the 
vast  West— where  there  are  but  few  books,  where  there  is  little  opportunity  for  the  child  to  receive  instruction, 
and  therefore  he  needs  something  peculiarly  attractive  to  catch  his  attention,  and  to  stimulate  his  curiosity;  for 
the  West,  where  often  several  denominations  from  different  parts  of  the  world  meet  in  the  Sabbath-school  as  or. 
common  ground  ;  for  the  family  circle  of  the  poor  and  of  the  rich,  of  the  Quaker,  the  Presbyterian,  the  Episcopa- 
lian, the  Baptist,  the  Methodist,  <fcc. ;  and  it  will  be  seen  that  the  work  of  preparing  suitable  religious  books  is  an 
immense  task.  If  they  have  not  succeeded,  it  has  not  been  for  want  of  patience  and  perseverance.  That  they 
have  made  no  mistakes,  I  do  not  assert;  that  they  have  done  wonders,  all  must  ailow.  The  great  problem  is, 
whether  any  association  can  occupy  this  common  ground  of  Christianity,  and  create  such  a  Christian  literature  as 
will  drive  out  all  that  is  foolish,  and  yet  be  pointed  enough  to  lead  the  soul  to  God.  An  examination  of  what 
they  have  done  satisfies  me  that  it  can  be  done ;  and  while  I  do  not  pretend  that  faults  and  imperfections  may  not 
be  pointed  out,  yet  I  do  say,  that  such  an  amount  of  safe,  judicious,  interesting  Christian  literature  has  not  been 
presented  to  the  world,  by  all  the  minds  that  have  thought  and  written  for  the  ycung,  since  the  days  of  Luther,  a3 
has  been  presented  by  this  society."— Rev.  John  Todd,  of  Pittsfield,  Mass. 


NEW  AND  BEAUTIFUL  SERIES  OF 

CHILDREN'S  TRACTS, 

OR  FORTY-EIGHT  ATTRACTIVE  LITTLE  BOOKS  OF  FOUR  PACES  EACH, 

WITH  ONE  OR  TWO  NEAT  AND  APPROPRIATE  CUTS. 
GIX  BOOKS  FOR.  A  CENT! 

Published  by  the  American  Sunday-school  Union,  No.  146  Chestnut  street,  Philadelphia. 


CONTENTS  OF  SERIES  No.  I.   32mo.  Price  4  cents. 


Make  haste ! 

The  Old  Box  Maker. 

Drowning  Boy  Saved. 

Franklin's  Loan. 

The  Honest  Boy. 

The  Class  of  Gin. 

Questions  for  Self-Examination. 

Guilty!  Guilty!  Guilty! 

Three  Sisters  in  one  Grave. 


"  Is  it  Worth  Climbing  fori" 
The  Knd  of  the  World. 
Tribute  to  Elizabeth  Baker.  ^ 
Little  Peter  and  his  Library 

Book. 

To  my  Son  on  Leaving  Home. 

Vanity. 

The  New  Bonnet 
Work  and  Thrive. 


Serious  Questions. 

A  Dreadful  Thing  to  Die. 

An  Address  at  the  Grave  of  a 

Sunday-school  Child. 
Short  Sayings. 

The  Kink  in  the  Engine  Rope. 
Take  Care  of  Your  Ears. 
Every  Man  in  His  Place. 


CONTENTS  OF  SERIES  No.  II.   32mo.  Price  4  cents. 


All  the  World  on  Stilts. 

Signs. 

Fourth  Commandment  Broken. 

Little  Jane. 

A  Deed  of  Love. 

The  Lurking   Enemy,  or  the 

Safest  Place  is  the  Case. 
The  Grocery  ruined  Him. 
Harvest  close  upon  Seed-time. 
Going  Apprentice. 


Whnt  is  it  for  a  Child  to  Know 

the  Scriptures] 
Pull  it  up  by  the  Root. 
The  Fish  which  brought  Money 

to  Christ. 
Daily  Mercies. 
Death  of  Little  Mary. 
The  Fruitless  Fie- tree,  or  New 

Year's  Thoughts. 
The  Bible  is  True. 


The  Great  Canal,  or  all  have 

something  to  do. 
The  Home-made  Boy. 
The  Baby  is  with  God 
The  Wise  Man. 
The  Traveller  s  Praye* 
Give  us  this  day  our  daily  Bread. 
The  Flower-Beds. 
Parental  Ar.iiety. 


]VEW  lSmo  TRACTS. 

In  addition  to  the  48  now  32mo  tracts  above,  we  have  just  published  a  new 
series  of  TWENTY-SEVEN  18mo  tracts,  designed  for  distribution  among  the 
larger  boys  and  girls  in  Sunday-schools,  &c,  &c. 

These  are  sold  at  6£  cents  the  set,  or  four  for  one  cent.  Each  tract  is  embellished 
with  a  cut. 

TITLES  OF  THE   SERIES  No.  I.   l8mo.   Price  6i  cents. 


Henry  Dover. 

Our  Creator. 

Repentance. 

Daily  Blessings. 

"  The  Hook  in  the  Nose." 

African  Child's  Lament. 

Early  Piety. 

Death  of  a  Sunday-school  Girl. 
Dying  Counsel  of  a  Sunday- 
school  Girl. 


The  Bountiful  Friend. 
Arithmetic  of  Life. 
Happy  New  Year. 
Christ's  Lambs. 
The  Street  School. 
Horrors  of  Idolatry. 
The  Stone  Mason. 
"Where's  the  HarmF 
Little  Edward. 


The  Beginning  and  the  End. 

The  Sower. 

Faith. 

Santa  Claus. 
Punctuality. 

Thoughts  on  going  to  Bed. 
"  Oh !  His  Sabbaths." 
Little  Joseph. 
Little  Becky. 


SERIES  No.  II.   ISmo.  27  tracts,  6^  cents. 


The  Sailor's  Daughter. 
Anne's  Pupil. 

Willy  Jones  and  Henry  Green. 

The  Little  Choctaw  Girl. 

Go  to  the  Fountain. 

A  Brief  Account  of  Mary  Ann. 

Kindness. 

"Luck,"  "Fortune,"  "Chance."' 
Pride. 

A  Letter  to  Children. 


Cultivate  a  Small  Field. 

The  Two  Little  Words. 

Little  Poz. 

I  am  the  Happiest. 

No  Policy  in  Cheating. 

Bible  Reasons  for  Reading  the  j 

Bible. 
Temptation. 
Emma  the  Dunce. 
A  Bad  Habit. 


A  New  Lesson. 

The  Man  of  One  Book. 

Will  you  gol 

Will  you  come? 

Michael  Blake  and  his  Pocket 

Bible. 
Do  you  see  clearly  1 
The  Actress. 

Homely  Hints  to  Sunday-school 
Teachers. 


Officers,  Agents,  and  Depositories  of  the  American  Sunday-school  Union. 

President — ALEXANDER  HENRY,  146  Chestnut  St.,  Philad. 
Treasurer — Herman  Cope,  146  Chestnut  St.,  Philad. 

Frederick  W.  Porter.  Corresponding  Secretary,  146  Chestnut  St..  Philad. 
Frederick  A.  Packard,  Editor  of  the  Society's  Publications,  146  Chestnut  St,  Philad. 

Home  Depository — George  S.  Scofield,  146  Chestnut.  St.,  Philad. 

Boston  Depository — Wm.  B.  Tappan,  No.  5  Cornhill, 

New  York  Depository — J.  C.  Meeks,  152  Nassau  Street. 

Louisville  Depository — Wm.  H.  Bulkley,  Fourth  Street. 


